The St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project supports the hungry, at-risk children and their families in our area. We use a garden plot in front of the St. Francis rectory where we grow and harvest herbs, vegetables and flowers. In past years each harvest has produced over 180 lbs. of produce- all delivered to the pantry at Foundations Preschool of Ann Arbor, - child care center for at-risk, low-income families.

The St. Francis Grounds & Botanical Gardens: Several gardens surround the St Francis of Assisi campus of buildings, including, but not limited to, the church, school, rectory and/or parish offices. These gardens need to be a beautiful expression of hospitality, in particular, the entrances, to our fellow parishioners and visitors as well as reflect a statement of our appreciation for God's creation and nature.

Questions? Contact: Scott Wright (734-821-2121)

Gardens and Grounds survey form

Dear Gardeners already involved in helping to take care of our grounds and flower gardens.  We would like your input and continued involvement in this work of God's creation for our parish. Please let us know of your continued interest by answering the questions on this survey form.  Thank you for your contributions to our parish. 
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St Francis Sustainable Garden: Foundations Preschool Visit 25 July 2015

St Francis Sustainable Garden: Foundations Preschool Visit 25 July 2015
Dear All,

As part of the St Francis of Assisi hospitality initiative, the Sustainable Garden Ministry welcomed five families from the Foundations Preschool, our partner and recipient of fresh produce and herbs from the garden.  Under Rose Sherry and Erich Jensen, co-coordinators of the gardens, leadership, they were joined by volunteers, Ann Marie Jensen, Sharon Sheldon and her husband, Jim, Frank Fazekas, Katy Derezinski, and Julie Lavender on a tour and harvest of the vegetable gardens.  Beans, cukes, tomatoes, cilantro, oregano, and an onion were picked wiith, weighed, and presented to our Foundations Preschool visitors today.
Thank you for all who attended on this beautiful, sunny and warm summer day of gardening (see linked photos).

Kind regards,
Erich Jensen
https://plus.google.com/photos/103301279807915546920/albums/6176256453818123233

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Watering from Drenched to Dry Days

Dear All,
 
We are now in a dry spell and the need for extra water this week is heightened.
 
Here are the instructions from earlier this season:
 
GENERAL WATERING INFORMATION (additions in blue)

  • Water Weekly, Gently, and Deeply
    • Water 1-2 inches deep (check by poking finger in ground in several bed locations, as the composted soil is brittle and water is penetrates poorly)
    • Water gently with watering cans at base of plants, if possible
    • Do NOT water if heavy rainstorm occurs day before, after, or day of the scheduled day
  • Try to use water contents of rain barrels first (1) at SW corner of rectory (2) at south wall of parish office.  Rain barrels are empty due to use/misuse this week.
  • Use 3 watering cans located in the gospels garden or 2 bright green watering cans near the parish office rain barrel
  • If rain barrels are empty/too low, use hoses at (1) back patio of rectory (2) SE corner/front of rectory (3) at south wall of parish behind yews/evergreens (need key) (Note: Use watering cans instead of direct spray from hoses)
  • Volunteers for Peter/Francis garden, Matthew/Mark garden, Luke/John garden, and perimeter garden should water the pots and earthbox with pepper and eggplant plants within the north end of the main garden; They dry out almost daily in 85+ degree heat.
  • Lastly, if you notice drooping plants in other volunteers beds (or on the rectory patio [i.e., Father James pots], please water with the only exception being the potato plants in the Matthew bed.
  • Find key in clear plastic berry container in garden storage bin
  • Combination for lock on storage bin is 2-32-22
 
Thank you very much,
Erich Jensen
734.771.8511
 

 
Subject: St Francis Sustainable Garden: Watering and Weeding Schedule 2015
Date: Thu, 28 May 2015 14:47:07 -0400

Dear All,
 
The watering, weeding and more schedule will start on Monday, June 1.
 
Please read this long informational message carefully, and feel free to contact Erich or Rose at any time with questions, comments and/or corrections.
 
ASSIGNMENTS
 
Mondays (Francis and Peter Garden Beds)
 
Tuesdays (Matthew and Mark Garden Beds)
 
Wednesdays (Luke and John Garden Beds)
 
Thursdays (Paul Garden Bed: East Half) (note: other half of bed is shared with Fridays)
 
Fridays (Paul Garden Bed: West Half) (note: other half of bed is shared with Thursdays)
 
Saturdays (Perimeter Garden Beds outside picket fence of Main Garden (i.e., 4 Gospels)
 
Added Note(s):
  • No assignments for Sundays
  • New/Proposed Mary Garden Bed (just south of Paul Garden near cedars and street) has been cleared, but welcomes volunteers to weed it at any time as it awaits planting.
 
THOUGHTS ABOUT VOLUNTEER PARTNERSHIPS
  • Partners decide how, when and what activities are shared on EACH day and PLEASE COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH EACH OTHER (email addresses and phone numbers are on or in this message)
  • Examples:  (1) Meet at garden at same time OR (2) Go at different times and one waters/other weeds on same day OR (3) Alternate each week to water and weed
  • Partners are backup for each other, too, if sickness, vacation, business trip, etc
  • If either volunteer partner(s) cannot do their day, please email the entire group for replacement.
  • As summer progresses, we can rotate garden bed assignments, if interest and/or boredom is expressed.  Let us know.
 
GENERAL WATERING/WEEDING AND MORE INFORMATION
  • Water Weekly, Gently, and Deeply
    • Water 1-2 inches deep (check by poking finger in ground in several bed locations)
    • Water gently with watering cans at base of plants, if possible
    • Do NOT water if heavy rainstorm occurs day before or day of the scheduled day
  • Try to Use water contents of rain barrels first (1) at SW corner of rectory (2) at south wall of parish office
  • Use 3 watering cans located in the gospels garden
  • If rain barrels are empty/too low, use hoses at (1) back patio of rectory (2) SE corner/front of rectory (3) at south wall of parish behind yews/evergreens (need key) (Note: Use watering cans instead of direct spray from hoses)
  • Find key in clear plastic berry container in garden storage bin
  • Combination for lock on storage bin is 2-32-22
  • Soakers hoses may be located/placed in Paul Garden only; must hook up with hose along parish office wall.  Note: It takes a long time to water deeply and completely with soaker hoses.
  • Try to weed after watering, as weeds are easier to pull
  • Trowels (2) and weed tool (1) (and gloves) for weeding are located in garden storage bin
  • When weeding, deadhead plants/remove yellow leaves/observe for disease/pests/wildlife (e.g., rabbit nest) activity, too.  Throw debris in city compost bin.
  • Other activities such as mulching with straw, clearing dead/spent (i.e., no more production) plants will be announced, as needed by Erich or Rose (again, call or text us while in the garden, and we will try to get back promptly, but cannot promise immediate response)
 
Please print email and take with you to garden the first couple times.  We will try to post on inside lid of storage bin and website soon, too.
 
Thank you very much for your participation,
Erich Jensen and Rose Sherry
Garden Coordinators
 
 
 

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St Francis Sustainable Garden: Insect Alert


Hello Everyone,
 
We need your help (all volunteers) with the onslaught of flying Japanese beetles (often in pairs) on the raspberry bushes/brambles.  These little creatures are munching holes(and mating) in the leaves.
 
Please flick/catch/drop these little critters into the soap water containers that are now located on the ground in front of the raspberry brambles  in the Peter Garden.  They don't bite, but they are a bit fast.  If everyone checks on their assigned day and puts as many of them in the soapy water as possible we may break the cycle of them informing others beetles in the area.  There is also a second clear lidless container with soapy water (drying us) and bodies that can be replenished from the white lidded one and placed directly under leaves for you to flick them into it.
 
I know an odd, maybe uncomfortable request.  Ann Marie and I delivered a couple dozen to a watery grave today.
 
On a positive note lots of flying beneficial insects are pollinating native plants in the gardens.  They are generally harmless except the bumble bees that need to be directly provoked to be problematic.  Please enjoy their activity which is good for the new vegetable blossoms, too.
 
Thank you for helping with pest control,
Erich
734.771.8511


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St Francis Sustainable Garden today: Peter and Francis Gardens

We harvested raspberries, squash, and the first pole beans.  We spread mulch under the rhubarb after watering and removal of yellow/brown leaves.  We deadheaded geraniums, coreopsis, daisies, verbena and lilies.  Selected red and black raspberries canes were trimmed.  Using rain barrel water, we watered daisies, verbena, geraniums and the pepper and eggplant pots in the main garden.  Weeding was done sporadically, not thoroughly throughout Peter and Francis.
 
Lastly we set out 2 containers of soapy water (a white one covered to keep from evaporating) under the red raspberries and flicked/drowned numerous Japanese beetles off the leaves.  I have to get a note out to other volunteers to do this activity this week.  The process of capturing them is to keep the beetles from flying to others and alerting/notifying/bringing them back to the plants.

 
Best,
Erich
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Fwd: Thursday Harvest


HARVEST:
A couple of ounces of both red and black raspberries.
A couple of zucchini and yellow squash   I left some smaller ones that may be ready for harvest on Monday.
Start checking the tomatillos, I harvested a couple that were ready.
I also harvested three cucumbers and left one that will be bigger on Monday. There are more coming and you have to look below the plants as well.

The bush beans are really growing!!!

I looks like something cut/bit leaves off the pole beans.  This is near where the peas once were. I don't know if they were trimmed by human or if something got into the garden and nibbled them off?

Hopefully the hot weather this coming weekend and maybe into next week will help the tomatoes ripen.  It was too cool last year for them.

Have a great weekend.

Rose

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St Francis Sustainable Garden Update 13 Jul 2015


Hello,
 
Summer is going by fast, and thanks to all of you the sustainable gardens are looking terrific and are well cared for.  Produce production has expanded and going very well. 
 
Today Ann Marie and I harvested another pint of black raspberries and 1/2 pint of red raspberries which will be delivered today with the garlic cloves that have been curing at our house.
 
The Marie garden bed has:
  1. Totally cleared
  2. Prairie Dock, Tall Coreopsis, Tall Black Eyed Susan and Spiderwort have been rescued/kept in the bed on the east end.
  3. 30 bags of top soil were poured onto the west end of the bed and 40 more bags have been ordered
  4. Canadian Anemone (n = 3) has been temporarily planted on the west end of the bed
  5. Plants will be relocated as a design plan with existing plants is developed.
  6. Additionally as plants are moved (depending on continuance of this wet cooler weather) within the bed and from Paul; they may be split and potted for future fund raising spring sales of native plants OR used on other parts of the church property.
  7. We are also considering signage for the bed as well as the individual plants for identification and education purposes.
  8. Note:  If interested, please continue to weed this bed and help is welcome when the next bags of top soil arrive and need to be dispersed, raked, and/or shoveled into the existing soil
 
Regards,
Erich Jensen
734.771.8511


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St Francis Sustainable Garden Update Part 1 or 2 Today

Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2015 14:39 PM   Subject: Garden Update
Hello All.

We hope that y'all had a wonderful weekend.
Patrick and Rose stopped by the garden this morning and did the following things:

1) cut out the pea plants on the end of Luke that had been eaten off and were not going to produce much and then planted pole beans in their place. Hopefully these will have enough time to come up and give us some beans before it gets too cold in the fall.

2) Firmed up the string supports for the cucumbers and tied the plants to the strings to train them to grow up.

3) Patrick also pruned the lower blossoms and stems. This is order to force the fruit growth on the top of the plant rather than along the bottom on the ground.

We are hoping that the rain predicted for tomorrow will be sufficient for this week's watering.

Rose & Patrick


Date: Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 3:10 PM Subject: Garden Update  St Francis Sustainable Garden Update Part 1 or 2 Today
Dear All,
 
1. Garlic was harvested and will be cured for 2 weeks before delivery.
2. Remaining (?) peas and black raspberries harvested and delivered.
3. Garden looks healthy and VERY neat/cleaned up.
4. Tue, Wed and Sat teams, please check pots on inner perimeter for dryness and need watering.  They were watered today.  Also note the rectory rain barrel hose was changed for easy fill up watering cans.  Longer hose does not seem to work well.
5. Thurs and Friday teams, please use the overflowing rain barrel near parish office.
6. More than half of Mary has been cleaned and top soil has been delivered to begin raising soil level in bed this week.
 
Regards,
Erich and Ann Marie Jensen and Susan Bass
 


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